Hurricane “Nora” hits Mexico with very heavy rains, leaving at least 1 person dead

Category 1 Hurricane "Nora" made brief landfall along the coast of Jalisco, Mexico around midnight UTC on August 29, 2021, with maximum sustained winds of 130 km/h (80 mph) and a minimum central pressure of 980 hPa. Rainfall from remnants of Nora is expected to continue affecting parts of Mexico over the next 2 days and spread into the southwestern U.S. and the central Rockies beginning Wednesday, September 1, bringing the potential for flash flooding to the region.

The storm continued grazing the coast of Jalisco after making landfall, producing very heavy rains and flooding over parts of southwestern Mexico. The storm weakened to a tropical storm by 18:00 UTC and dissipated by 09:00 UTC on August 30, 105 km (65 miles) ESE of Los Mochis, Mexico.

Its remnants are moving toward the NNW at 15 km/h (9 mph) and this general motion should continue for the next day or two, the National Hurricane Center (NHC) said.

Additional rainfall of 75 to 150 mm (3 to 6 inches) with isolated maximum amounts of 250 mm (10 inches) is possible along the coast of Sinaloa, Mexico associated with the remnants of Nora. This rainfall will produce life-threatening flash flooding and mudslides, NHC said.¹

Hurricane "Nora" at 00:00 UTC on August 29, 2021. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, TW

The remnant moisture from Nora will lift across Sonora Tuesday through Thursday, August 31 to September 2, producing 50 to 100 mm (2 to 4 inches) of rainfall with isolated maximum amounts of 200 mm (8 inches). This may produce scattered flash flooding and mudslides.

Beginning Wednesday, moisture associated with the remnants of Nora will bring heavy rainfall and the potential for scattered flash flooding to portions of the southwestern U.S. and central Rockies.

Swells generated by the remnants of Nora are affecting the southwestern coast of Mexico and will spread northward into the Gulf of California through today, August 30.

These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions.

Flooding caused by Nora has damaged at least 500 homes in Jalisco and claimed one life after a hotel partially collapsed in Puerto Vallarta.

In addition, 7 people are missing — 6 fishermen and one woman who went missing after her car was swept away.²

References:

¹ BULLETIN – Remnants Of Nora Advisory Number 19 – NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL EP142021 – 300 AM MDT Mon Aug 30 2021

² Nora unleashing heavy rain as it hugs western coast of Mexico – AccuWeather

Featured image: Hurricane "Nora" at 00:00 UTC on August 29, 2021. Credit: NOAA/GOES-East, RAMMB/CIRA, TW